United Rentals, Inc. has announced that Jonathan M. Gottsegen will join the company as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, effective February 18, 2009. Gottsegen replaces Roger E. Schwed who is stepping down but will remain with the company for a transition period.

Michael Kneeland, CEO of United Rentals, said, "We are delighted that Jonathan has agreed to lead our legal team as he brings extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, financings, securities, regulatory and corporate governance. I am very pleased to have Jonathan on our executive team, and I know that he will help us achieve our strategic objectives."

Kneeland added, "We deeply appreciate Roger's efforts on behalf of United Rentals over the past three years and wish him well in his future endeavors."

Prior to joining United Rentals, Gottsegen directed the Corporate and Securities Practice Group at The Home Depot, Inc., where he led a team responsible for oversight of the company's key legal matters. Earlier, Gottsegen served as securities counsel for Time Warner Inc., responsible for corporate, securities and corporate governance. From 1999-2003, Gottsegen was an associate in the New York office of Kaye Scholer Fierman Hays & Handler in its corporate and securities transactional practice.

From 1996 to 1999, Gottsegen was a senior staff attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in its Division of Corporate Finance. He received an undergraduate degree from Emory University, a law degree from Tulane University and is a member of the bar of Louisiana, New York, and the District of Columbia.